HOPKINTON – The cleanup began weeks ago – right after the snow stopped - while other preparation to host thousands of runners and spectators for the Boston Marathon started months ago.

Hundreds of daffodils are now blooming in front of Town Hall, Main Street Cemetery, businesses and along the Marathon course. They were planted in October by the Hopkinton Garden Club as part of Marathon Daffodils, an effort that raised more than $26,000 to brighten the route of this year’s Marathon in the wake of last year’s bombings.

Public Works crews swept the streets, mowed the Town Common and cleaned up the cemetery to prepare for the event, according to John Westerling, public works director.

"We started weeks ago with street sweepings downtown, near the schools and the entire route," he said. "We picked up trash from Rte. 495 to the Ashland line."

Sections of sidewalks were repaired and the crosswalks and traffic lines were repainted last week. Logos of runners wearing hats were also painted on the streets near crosswalks.

Westerling said his crew has a punch list each year to make sure everything gets done before the Marathon. Before Monday, the Town Common will be mowed and streets near the start line and schools will be swept again.

The World War I "Doughboy" statue near the start line and several other monuments on the Town Common are shined each year before the race.

"Every year we have the world’s attention on Hopkinton and we want to make sure the town shines and we do every year," Westerling said. "It always looks great."

In October, 100 volunteers for the Hopkinton Garden Club and other groups helped plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs in town along the course.

"It was to show the runners we are behind them," said Jina Kessler, co-president of the garden club. The group will be placing an additional 14 planters with daffodils this weekend to further beautify the town.

"We have people coming from all over the world and we wanted to welcome them," Kessler said. "We are really happy considering the weather that Mother Nature dealt us this year - we are very happy with the results."

A new section of concrete sidewalk was installed downtown because crews noticed settling, Westerling said.

The DPW has also checked all water and sewer manholes to make sure there are no problems.

Crews hired by NStar were out several weeks ago to repave portions of East Main Street that was ripped up to install a new gas main to Legacy Farm, a mixed-use residential development.

"It was part of their contract to repair the road before the Marathon so we could provide a smooth road for the runners," Westerling said.

Next up, Westerling said his crews will be moving bleachers from the high school to the start line.

Page 2 of 2 - Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.